Canucks AA Get Funky To Break Losing Streak
The road over the past couple of weeks has been rough for the Moose Jaw Canucks AA U18 team. Five straight losses has been tough on the team.
But on Tuesday evening the Canucks came alive convincingly defeating the visiting Lumsden Cubs 16 - 2 in a mercy rule five innings at Ross Miller Park.
The Canucks, who were playing with a shortened bench, scored 11 runs in the second inning effectively sealing the Cubs fate.
The game saw the Cubs utilize five different pitchers in an unsuccessful attempt to silence the Canucks’ bats.
Defensively the Canucks looked sharp. The team successfully turned a double play (second base to first base) in the fifth inning to extinguish any hope for a late game Cubs rally.
A CANUCKS PLAYER SLIDES IN SAFE AT THIRD BASE
Canucks head coach Zachary Klyne was happy with the win and the team’s performance given their recent fortunes.
“It was good. In every game we have played in we have left runners on base and every game has been close but this game we finally got timely hits,” Klyne said.
“We shook the lineup up a bit and we moved everyone around. When we needed a hit we got one today. It was good.”
The team has been in a slump since sweeping a double header against the Saskatoon Blue Jays on May 4th.
FIELDING A BALL
The Canucks bats chased four Cubs pitchers from the game by the end of the second inning. An inning which saw an offensive surge versus the Cubs not so sound pitching.
“We went through the lineup twice (in the second inning). It’s nice when everybody gets to bat. We had a short bench today and so everybody was sort of in a funk today and we hit the ball well.”
Asked what sort of impression the Canucks performance after a bad couple of weeks he said it showed the team was competitive.
“I think it shows we can play. We always knew we were in all of the games but we sometimes let go at the end. This shows when we play a complete game we are going to be a good team to play against,” Klyne said.
RUNNING BETWEEN BASES
The fifth inning saw the Canucks turn their first double play of the season.
“We have been working on that in practices. He threw it to the wrong guy but it still worked so we’ll take those,” Klyne said. “Usually when the pitcher gets it he gets it he panics.”
Although the team played well when asked what stood out for highlights was the play of pitcher Riley Cushway - who pitched all five innings - and shortstop Spencer Craig who went four and four (two doubles and four RBIs).
CANUCKS PITCHER RILEY CUSHWAY THREW ALL FIVE INNINGS IN THE VICTORY
Asked what the team’s plans were it was to catch up on lost practice due to the wet weather.
“We are going to work on everything still. We are going to work on our defence. Do we are just going to practice hammering ground balls and making sure they get their routines down,”
He said the repetition is necessary due to the wet weather preventing them from practicing for an entire week.
“We missed practice and they looked rough when they came back so we are going to keep practicing and working on the reps.”
A CANUCKS PLAYER HAD AN EASY RUN TO THIRD BASE ON A MISSED BALL BY THE CUBS BAT CATCHER
The Canucks are off to a tournament at Saskatoon this coming weekend.
The next Canucks AA U18 home action is a June 1st doubleheader versus the Prince Albert Royals. Game times are 10 am and 1 pm at Ross Wells Park.